Tips for Attracting Cardinals to Your Outdoor Area
Tips for Attracting Cardinals to Your Outdoor Area
The Northern Cardinal is a very common bird found throughout most
of the eastern and central states, the entire south, and much of the
southwestern United States. They can be in yards, gardens, woodlands,
even deserts and have greatly increased their breeding range over the
past 80 years. The Northern Cardinal does not migrate in the winter
therefore providing shelter, proper food, and fresh water will entice
them to visit your yard with enthusiasm and continue to do so throughout
the year.
Northern Cardinals prefer dense shrubby areas such as forest edges, overgrown fields, hedgerows, backyards, marshy thickets, mesquite, and ornamental landscaping. Cardinals nest in dense foliage at heights ranging from 3 to 12 feet off the ground in many kinds of trees and shrubs. You will find them nesting in dogwood trees, honeysuckle vines, grape vines, red cedar trees, spruce trees, rose bushes, blackberry brambles, elm trees, sugar maple trees and box elders. They do not nest in bird houses or nesting boxes.
The diet of these beautiful red birds consist mostly of seed and fruit for the adults and the nestlings are fed mostly insects. Cardinals eat many kinds of birdseed. The Northern Cardinal's strong thick bill is perfect for large seeds. Black sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, and safflower seeds are three of their favorites. Other foods cardinals prefer include cracked corn, peanut pieces, fresh berries, apple chunks and small pieces of suet. Offering a mix of these in wide feeders with space for them to perch will attract them to your yard or garden. Do not use small tube feeders unless they have a large tray at the bottom. Platform feeders and fly through feeders are also a good choice. Since Cardinals are ground feeders the food source you supply should be kept at ground level or below about 5 feet. Open air cedar bird feeders mounted on a post are an excellent option. It is also important to note that due to their bright color it is safer for the Northern Cardinal to feed very early in the morning or very late in the evening. They will often be the first to feed in the morning and the last bird at your feeder at night.
Cardinals like all animals require fresh water. Provide water in a bird bath a few yards away from the feeder. Clean the bird bath at least once a week and add fresh water to keep it attractive to the birds.
Northern Cardinals prefer dense shrubby areas such as forest edges, overgrown fields, hedgerows, backyards, marshy thickets, mesquite, and ornamental landscaping. Cardinals nest in dense foliage at heights ranging from 3 to 12 feet off the ground in many kinds of trees and shrubs. You will find them nesting in dogwood trees, honeysuckle vines, grape vines, red cedar trees, spruce trees, rose bushes, blackberry brambles, elm trees, sugar maple trees and box elders. They do not nest in bird houses or nesting boxes.
The diet of these beautiful red birds consist mostly of seed and fruit for the adults and the nestlings are fed mostly insects. Cardinals eat many kinds of birdseed. The Northern Cardinal's strong thick bill is perfect for large seeds. Black sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, and safflower seeds are three of their favorites. Other foods cardinals prefer include cracked corn, peanut pieces, fresh berries, apple chunks and small pieces of suet. Offering a mix of these in wide feeders with space for them to perch will attract them to your yard or garden. Do not use small tube feeders unless they have a large tray at the bottom. Platform feeders and fly through feeders are also a good choice. Since Cardinals are ground feeders the food source you supply should be kept at ground level or below about 5 feet. Open air cedar bird feeders mounted on a post are an excellent option. It is also important to note that due to their bright color it is safer for the Northern Cardinal to feed very early in the morning or very late in the evening. They will often be the first to feed in the morning and the last bird at your feeder at night.
Cardinals like all animals require fresh water. Provide water in a bird bath a few yards away from the feeder. Clean the bird bath at least once a week and add fresh water to keep it attractive to the birds.
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